Now that the Academy Awards have had time to sink in, and we've all scrambled to rent the winning flicks to analyze and discuss their plots, the acting and music and cinematography, I'm left to wonder why there are no categories for best vehicles.
Some people in the arts community will roll their eyes at this thought, but as automotive enthusiasts, do you not also agree it would be fun to have categories to honor the coolest, most-amazingly-tricked-out, powerful and specially designed rides. And even have categories for best stunt cars and driving scenes?
Since the Oscars have not given the rides we love on screen this kind of recognition, I decided to create some automotive-specific categories and honor what I feel are the best car "leads" in films this year with my aptly named "OsCAR awards."
Often in films, it's common to see brand integration. Movies provide prime real estate for subtle -- or blatant, for that matter -- advertising during which companies can capture the attention of millions of viewers with the hope of getting them excited about the latest products. We have seen automotive manufacturers take great advantage of this in many films over the years. An example is found in my choice for Best Automotive Ensemble in a Film. And the winner is ... (insert the sound of a ripping envelope) the car cast of "Iron Man II."
This stellar lineup included the stunning Audi R8 V-10 convertible belonging to Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr., accompanied by Tony's beautiful and fast vintage race cars, as well as the carnage that ensued on the racetrack.
While it can be fun to check out the latest rides to hit the market showcased in the films we love, I especially like it when cars are tricked out specifically for movies. Many film stars throughout the decades have not been the actors, but the cars. Think "Bullitt," the 1968 Mustang that outshined lead actor Steve McQueen, the legendary 1978 Trans Am that became more popular than Burt Reynolds in "Smokey and the Bandit," the iconic General Lee from "The Dukes of Hazzard," and the Batmobile, which was more heroic to many of us than "Batman" himself.
The rides are often created by legendary designers and builders or by car companies and visionaries who collaborate to deliver another automotive star to the big screen.
So, my choice for Best Performance by a Car in a Supporting Role is ... from the movie "Kick-Ass," the tricked-out red Ford Mustang belonging to the character Red Mist, a car created by Galpin Auto Sports. This machine featured aggressive and exaggerated bodywork for the Ford Mustang, along with a striking red/black graphics package and black wheels with red accents.
Often a lineup of identical picture cars is built for a film because of the stunts. The vehicles in action flicks are typically damaged or destroyed during car chases and action scenes, and therefore many duplicates are needed for filming. The stunt-car sequences are often the most riveting part of a film, especially for those of us who enjoy seeing powerful, sexy cars tearing through streets and leaping tall buildings in a single bound. And these moments take incredible skill, not only from the drivers and stunt coordinators, but the cars. While there were some stellar action-packed car chase scenes in the movies "Salt" and "Inception" and a scene in "Unstoppable" that gives them both a run for their money, my pick for Best Performance by a Car in a Stunt Driving Scene in a Film is ... (smiling at the camera and creating extra-long period of suspense) "The Green Hornet" and the cast of Black Beauty Chrysler Crown Imperials.
Having saved the biggest category for last, as the Oscars always do, let's revisit the idea of a car being specifically designed to be the focal point of the film. This year's choice had nothing to do with brand integration, as the car was 45 years old. It is also incredibly unique in that it was the director's wish to combine the frame and body panels of one manufacturer and the engine and many parts and components of another maker. Going beyond its impeccable design, the winner of this category is utterly fierce in that it is a street fighter, featuring dual machine guns on its hood, front-bumper-loaded missiles and a grille-mounted flame thrower. Therefore, in the category for Best Performance by a Car in a Lead Role the OsCAR goes to ... "The Green Hornet" and Black Beauty, the 1960s Chrysler Imperial Crown.
There are many films to look forward to in the coming year, movies renowned for their cast of cars, such as "Fast and Furious 5,, "Iron Man III," more in the Pixar "Cars" series, and brand-new flicks such as "Drive Angry" with Nicholas Cage. I cannot wait to see those films and hope that for years to come, car movies remain popular and keep showcasing unforgettable cars we fall in love with. Write in with your thoughts about my OsCAR winners of 2010 and let me know if any others stood out for you.
Among her numerous accomplishments, Courtney Hansen is the author of "Garage Girl's Guide to EverythingYou Need to Know About Your Car," the host of Spike TV's "Power Block," the former host of TLC's "Overhaulin'" program and a writer with Wheelbase Media and Auto Shift Weekly magazine. You can email her by logging on to www.wheelbase.ws/media and using the contact link.
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